Being connected to the web and having
high-speed and instant access to the Internet, data and
information has become a way of life for millions of people
around the world. The number of people accessing the mobile
internet is growing at an enormous rate. In 2014 there will
be an estimated 1,750,000 million mobile internet users
worldwide, and this figure is expected to climp in the next
few years. The ITU (International Telecommunication Union,
a United Nations agency) estimates that mobile web access
with laptops and smartphones are overtaking desktop web
access.

With the advent of broadband internet
access, wireless 3G/4G networks and widespread Wi-Fi access
in public places, most of us have slowly become addicted
to fast wireless connectivity over the past few years. Checking
stock portfolios, online banking, watching sports and TV
shows, and staying in touch with friends on social networking
sites have become an integral part of our daily routine,
and few of us can imagine a life without being constantly
connected to wireless networks. And thanks to smartphones,
currency converters, weather reports, maps and GPS data,
foreign-language phrase books, and travel information, are
now all available with the touch of a button.

Unfortunately, taking your wireless
gadgets with you when you move to another country is not
without difficulties, and having access to the same level
of connectivity as at home can be a challenge. Even in the
U.S. people complain about the slow 3G/4G data networks
compared to Wi-Fi, but you can expect even slower speeds
from data networks in many other countries. What few computer
and smartphone users realize is that it requires enormous
infrastructure investments to provide customers with high-speed
data services and Internet access. Most developed countries
are on par or even ahead of North America, when it comes
to high-speed Internet access and wireless data networks,
but most developing countries only provide data networks
in large cities and urban areas where there is a sufficient
customer base.

Should You Bring Your Smartphone?

Most smartphones today use the GSM (Global
System for Mobile Communications) standard and are compatible
with all major cell phone frequencies around the world.
But if you have an older phone that you would like to take
abroad, make sure it is a GSM phone with at least three
frequencies, or it might not work at your destination. The
cheapest solution is to find a local service provider as
soon as possible, to avoid expensive international roaming
and data transfer charges. Problems only arise if your phone
has been locked by your service provider at home, in which
case it will not work with a different provider overseas.
You can ask your provider to unlock your phone, or you can
have your phone unlocked by a third-party company for a
fee. Once unlocked, you can switch out the old SIM card
with one from your new service provider. The only disadvantage
is that your unlocked phone may not support all the features
offered by your new service provider, or the new provider
many not support all the features you previously enjoyed.

However, the functionality of your smartphone
overseas depends largely on your access to data networks
and how much you are willing to pay for data roaming. In
most cities around the world you will generally have access
to either a 2G (older and slower) or 3G/4G data network,
but coverage is often spotty or non-existent in rural areas.
If you are planning to stay in one region for a longer period
of time, you should find out which carrier (if any) provides
a data network, before signing up for a smartphone plan.
If the area you will be living in has no data network coverage,
you can always fall back on Wi-Fi to access the internet.

Should You Keep Your Data Plan?

In addition to speed and availability
of data networks, you need to be concerned about the charges
you accumulate for using your smartphone overseas. You can
use most cell phones while traveling abroad, but continuing
your U.S. cell phone plan beyond the first few weeks at
your new destination can be very expensive. Worldwide data
and call roaming plans are available for customers of all
major mobile phone providers in North America, but to avoid
exorbitant charges you should consider signing up with a
local phone and data service provider as soon as possible
upon arrival. There are some international plans, such as Telestial,
who provide advanced smart phones and services at a range
of prices in case you intend to move around while abroad,
or plan on worldwide travel between locations.

Every time you access the web, use Google
Maps, watch videos on YouTube, send and receive email on
your smartphone, you accrue charges for the transmitted
data. Before traveling overseas you should spend some time
getting all the details about international roaming charges
and international cell phone and data plans your service
provider at home may offer. Each North American mobile phone
provider has its own phone and data plans for international
cell phone coverage. Make sure you read all the details,
and sign up for a plan that best suits your needs and that
offers predictable charges without surprises. Keep in mind
that charges vary from provider to provider, and from country
to country. Some plans charge per kilobit of transferred
data, while others are based on bulk amounts such as 100mb
a month, which is much cheaper. For example, an international
pay-per-use data rate of $0.0195 per kilobit (AT&T)
sounds cheap, but under such a plan, downloading a 2 megabyte
photo would cost $39.

If your current provider does not offer
service at your planned destination, it may be best to put
your account on hold, and buy a cheap local cell phone and
data/phone service. To avoid unwanted data and roaming charges,
turn off all email and automatic roaming functions that
may access data networks even when you are not aware of
it. If you need to check your email or access social networking
sites, go to a place that offers Wi-Fi for free or a reasonable
fee. That way you won’t incur international roaming
charges.

What Features and Applications Will
Work Overseas?

What software applications and smartphone
features you will be able to use overseas depends on a variety
of factors. If you keep your phone and your provider while
overseas, most of your standard smartphone features, such
as push-email, texting, three-way calls, etc. will also
work.

Keep in mind that some applications
and features only work with phones within the U.S., and
some apps work only in the regions or countries for which
they were written (such as GPS navigation apps). If you
have a restaurant locator for New York City installed on
your smartphone, it most certainly won’t work overseas,
but with a little patience you may be able to find a similar
application that works at your destination. There are apps
that are Web-based (i.e. you need access to a data network
for them to work), such as weather reports, currency converters,
map and navigation software, and there are applications
that are fully downloaded on your smartphone and don’t
require Internet access, such as unit converters, foreign
language phrasebooks, voice translators, or pocket travel
guides. Before switching to a local service provider at
your destination (which is the only long-term solution for
expatriates) make sure you find out what smartphone features
and apps you will be able to use at your new location. The
best way to find out is to contact the software developer
and ask them if there is a version of their product that
works at your destination.

Also keep in mind that because of international
copyright and royalty issues some of your favorite apps
may not be available at your destination abroad. You may
not be able to watch your favorite TV shows, sports broadcasts,
or listen to your favorite internet radio stations. Of course,
you can take the small USB-enabled AppleTV and
the like and hook it up to Wi-Fi systems where available
in hotels around the world if you need a TV, movie, international
radio, or local sports fix!

Volker
Poelzl is a Living Abroad Contributing
Editor for Transitions Abroad. He has traveled in
over forty countries worldwide and has lived in ten
of them for study, research, and work.